Browns reach deal with second-round pick Joel Bitonio

Posted by Mike Wilkening on June 22, 2014, 3:02 PM EST

AP

The Browns have struck a deal with their second-round pick, agreeing to a contract with offensive guard Joel Bitonio, the club said Sunday.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Bitonio played tackle at Nevada but will be used at left guard in Cleveland. The No. 35 overall pick in May, Bitonio tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he was timed at 4.97 seconds in the 40-yard dash, fourth-best among offensive linemen.

Cornerback Justin Gilbert, the first of the Browns’ two first-round picks, is Cleveland’s lone unsigned rookie. The vast majority of rookie contracts leaguewide were completed during offseason workouts, owing to the increased ease of negotiating deals under the 2011 CBA.

Drives me crazy when teams draft players then switch their positions when they move to the NFL. This strategy rarely is effective. Its a big enough adjustment going from college to the NFL, then you switch the players position. Just makes the transition that more difficult, and ends up being a busted pick. Great job again Browns. And Most Browns fans wonder why they are horrible every year. This is why. Has nothing to do with caching, its stupid drafting and personnel decisions